A search for quantum black holes in electron+jet and muon+jet invariant mass spectra is performed with 140 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed invariant mass spectrum of lepton+jet pairs is consistent with Standard Model expectations. Upper limits are set at 95% confidence level on the production cross-sections times branching fractions for quantum black holes decaying into a lepton and a quark in a search region with invariant mass above 2.0 TeV. The resulting quantum black hole lower mass threshold limit is 9.2 TeV in the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali model, and 6.8 TeV in the Randall-Sundrum model.
The 95% CL model-independent upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ for the non-SM signal production with decay into the lepton+jet. The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the lower border of the SR (threshold of SR, Th$_\mathrm{SR}$), above which the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands of expected limits are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The limits are obtained with pseudo-experiments.
The combined 95% CL upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ as a function of threshold mass, $M_\mathrm{th}$, for QBH production with decay into lepton+jet for ADD-model (extra dimensions n = 6). The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the mass $M_\mathrm{th}$ of the signal where the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The theoretically predicted $\sigma \times Br$ for the QBH production and decay is shown as the solid blue curve with squares.
The combined 95% CL upper limits on $\sigma \times Br$ as a function of threshold mass, $M_\mathrm{th}$, for QBH production with decay into lepton+jet for RS1-model (extra dimensions n = 1). The limits take into account statistical and systematic uncertainties. Circles along the solid red line indicate the mass $M_\mathrm{th}$ of the signal where the observed limit is computed. The expected limits are shown by the dashed line. The $\pm 1\sigma$ and $\pm 2\sigma$ bands are shown in green and yellow, respectively. The theoretically predicted $\sigma \times Br$ for the QBH production and decay is shown as the solid blue curve with squares.
A search for a new heavy scalar particle $X$ decaying into a Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson and a new singlet scalar particle $S$ is presented. The search uses a proton-proton ($pp$) collision data sample with an integrated luminosity of 140 fb$^{-1}$ recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The most sensitive mass parameter space is explored in $X$ mass ranging from 500 to 1500 GeV, with the corresponding $S$ mass in the range 200-500 GeV. The search selects events with two hadronically decaying $\tau$-lepton candidates from $H\to \tau^+\tau^-$ decays and one or two light leptons ($\ell=e,\,\mu$) from $S\to VV$ ($V = W,\,Z$) decays while the remaining $V$ boson decays hadronically or to neutrinos. A multivariate discriminant based on event kinematics is used to separate the signal from the background. No excess is observed beyond the expected SM background and 95% confidence level upper limits between 72 fb and 542 fb are derived on the cross-section $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ assuming the same SM-Higgs boson-like decay branching ratios for the $S\to VV$ decay. Upper limits on the visible cross-sections $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to WW\tau\tau)$ and $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH \to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also set in the ranges 3-26 fb and 6-33 fb, respectively.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH)$ obtained from $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$, and their combination, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ obtained from the combination of $WW1\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ and $WW2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channels, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to WW\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
Observed and expected 95% CL upper limits are shown for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ obtained from $ZZ2\ell2\tau_{\mathrm{had}}$ channel, as a function of combined $m_{S}$ and $m_{X}$ masses ($m_{S}$+$m_{X}/25$) in GeV. The NMSSM scans of the allowed cross-sections for $\sigma(pp\to X\to SH\to ZZ\tau\tau)$ are also compared.
Searches for new resonances are performed using an unsupervised anomaly-detection technique. Events with at least one electron or muon are selected from 140 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV recorded by ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider. The approach involves training an autoencoder on data, and subsequently defining anomalous regions based on the reconstruction loss of the decoder. Studies focus on nine invariant mass spectra that contain pairs of objects consisting of one light jet or $b$-jet and either one lepton ($e$, $\mu$), photon, or second light jet or $b$-jet in the anomalous regions. No significant deviations from the background hypotheses are observed.
Distributions of the anomaly score from the AE for data and five benchmark BSM models. Their legends, from top to bottom, are; (1) charged Higgs boson production in association with a top quark, $tbH^{+}$ with $H^{+} \rightarrow t\bar{b}$; (2) a Kaluza-Klein gauge boson, $W_{KK}$, with the SM $W$ boson and a radion $\phi$; (3) a $Z'$ boson decaying to a composite lepton $E$ and $\ell$, with $E \rightarrow Z\ell$ with a mass of 0.5 TeV; (4) the SSM $W$'$\rightarrow W Z' \rightarrow \ell\nu q\bar{q}$; (5) a simplified dark-matter model with an $Z$ axial-vector mediator $Z' \rightarrow q\bar{q}$, where one of the quarks radiates a $W$ boson decaying to $\ell\nu$. The BSM predictions represent the expected number of events from 140 $fb^{-1}$ of data for heavy particle ($H^{+}$ ,$W_{KK}$ , $Z'$ , $W'$ and $Z'$, respectively) masses around 2 TeV. The distributions for the BSM models are smoothed to remove fluctuations due to low MC event counts. The vertical lines indicate the start of the three anomaly regions (ARs). The labels of the three ARs indicate the visible cross section for hypothetical processes yielding the same number of events as observed in the 140 $fb^{-1}$ dataset. The AE is applied to preselected events without any requirements on invariant mass distributions.
Invariant mass distributions of jet+Y for $M_{jY}$ > 0.3 TeV in the 10 pb AR along with the fit of Eq. (1). The fits are represented by the lines, while the associated statistical uncertainties are indicated by the shaded bands. The lower panels show the bin-by-bin significances of deviations from the fit, calculated as $(d_{\textit{i}} - f_{i})/\delta_{\textit{i}}$, where $d_{i}$ is the data yield, $f_{\textit{i}}$ is the fit value, and $\delta_{i}$ is the data uncertainty in the $\textit{i}$-th bin.
Values of $\Delta Z$ for the discovery sensitivity, as defined in the text, as a function of the invariant mass $\textit{m}$. The j+j invariant mass distribution is calculated in the 10 pb AR. Positive percentages indicate improvements in sensitivity. Horizontal dashed lines are drawn at 100% and 200% to guide the eye. The five benchmark BSM models are (1) charged Higgs boson production in association with a top quark, $tbH^{+}$ with $H^{+} \rightarrow t\bar{b}$; (2) a Kaluza-Klein gauge boson, $W_{KK}$, with the SM $W$ boson and a radion $\phi$; (3) a $Z'$ boson decaying to a composite lepton $E$ and $\ell$, with $E \rightarrow Z\ell$; (4) the sequential standard model $W' \rightarrow W Z' \rightarrow \ell\nu q\bar{q}$; (5) a simplified dark-matter model with an axial-vector mediator $Z' \rightarrow q\bar{q}$, where one of the quarks radiates a $W$ boson decaying to $\ell\nu$. The multiple markers shown for the composite-lepton model at the same invariant mass values correspond to different composite lepton ($E$) masses between 0.25 and 3.5 TeV. The center positions of the markers are set to the masses of the corresponding heavy particles.
A search for pair production of squarks or gluinos decaying via sleptons or weak bosons is reported. The search targets a final state with exactly two leptons with same-sign electric charge or at least three leptons without any charge requirement. The analysed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton$-$proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Multiple signal regions are defined, targeting several SUSY simplified models yielding the desired final states. A single control region is used to constrain the normalisation of the $WZ$+jets background. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are interpreted in the context of several supersymmetric models featuring R-parity conservation or R-parity violation, yielding exclusion limits surpassing those from previous searches. In models considering gluino (squark) pair production, gluino (squark) masses up to 2.2 (1.7) TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.
Observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
Positive one $\sigma$ observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
Negative one $\sigma$ observed exclusion limits at 95% CL from Fig 7(a) for $\tilde{g}$ decays into SM gauge bosons and $\tilde{\chi}^{0}_{1}$
A search for leptoquark pair production decaying into $te^- \bar{t}e^+$ or $t\mu^- \bar{t}\mu^+$ in final states with multiple leptons is presented. The search is based on a dataset of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139~fb$^{-1}$. Events are selected with two or more light leptons (electron or muon) and at least two jets out of which at least one jet is identified as coming from a $b$-hadron. Four signal regions, with the requirement of at least three light leptons, are considered based on the number of leptons of a given flavour. The main background processes are estimated using dedicated control regions in a simultaneous fit with the signal regions to data. No excess above the Standard Model background prediction is observed and 95% confidence level limits on the production cross section times branching ratio are derived as a function of the leptoquark mass. Under the assumption of exclusive decays into $te^{-}$ ($t\mu^{-}$), the corresponding lower limit on the scalar mixed-generation leptoquark mass $m_{\mathrm{LQ}_{\mathrm{mix}}^{\mathrm{d}}}$ is at 1.58 (1.59) TeV and on the vector leptoquark mass $m_{\tilde{U}_1}$ at 1.67 (1.67) TeV in the minimal coupling scenario and at 1.95 (1.95) TeV in the Yang-Mills scenario.
Selection efficiency times acceptance summed over two signal regions for the scalar leptoquark signals as a function of $m_{\mathrm{LQ}_{mix}^{\mathrm{d}}}$, assuming B = 1.
Selection efficiency times acceptance summed over two signal regions for the vector leptoquark signals as a function of $m_{\tilde{U}_{1}}$, assuming B = 1 and Yang-Mills coupling scenario.
Summary of the observed and expected 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for $\mathrm{LQ}_{\mathrm{mix}}^{\mathrm{d}}$ pair production as a function of $m_{\mathrm{LQ}_{\mathrm{mix}}^{\mathrm{d}}}$ under the assumptions of B(LQ$\rightarrow te$)=1.
A search for events with a dark photon produced in association with a dark Higgs boson via rare decays of the Standard Model $Z$ boson is presented, using 139 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The dark Higgs boson decays into a pair of dark photons, and at least two of the three dark photons must each decay into a pair of electrons or muons, resulting in at least two same-flavor opposite-charge lepton pairs in the final state. The data are found to be consistent with the background prediction, and upper limits are set on the dark photon's coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the Standard Model photon and the dark photon, $\alpha_{D}\varepsilon^2$, in the dark photon mass range of $[5, 40]$ GeV except for the $\Upsilon$ mass window $[8.8, 11.1]$ GeV. This search explores new parameter space not previously excluded by other experiments.
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 20 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 30 GeV
Observed and expected upper limits at 95% CL on the production cross-section times branching fraction as a function of $m_{A'}$ at dark Higgs boson mass of 40 GeV
A search is presented for a heavy resonance $Y$ decaying into a Standard Model Higgs boson $H$ and a new particle $X$ in a fully hadronic final state. The full Large Hadron Collider Run 2 dataset of proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 13$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018 is used, and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$. The search targets the high $Y$-mass region, where the $H$ and $X$ have a significant Lorentz boost in the laboratory frame. A novel signal region is implemented using anomaly detection, where events are selected solely because of their incompatibility with a learned background-only model. It is defined using a jet-level tagger for signal-model-independent selection of the boosted $X$ particle, representing the first application of fully unsupervised machine learning to an ATLAS analysis. Two additional signal regions are implemented to target a benchmark $X$ decay into two quarks, covering topologies where the $X$ is reconstructed as either a single large-radius jet or two small-radius jets. The analysis selects Higgs boson decays into $b\bar{b}$, and a dedicated neural-network-based tagger provides sensitivity to the boosted heavy-flavor topology. No significant excess of data over the expected background is observed, and the results are presented as upper limits on the production cross section $\sigma(pp \rightarrow Y \rightarrow XH \rightarrow q\bar{q}b\bar{b}$) for signals with $m_Y$ between 1.5 and 6 TeV and $m_X$ between 65 and 3000 GeV.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in anomaly signal region.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in anomaly signal region.
Acceptance times efficiency for signal grid in merged two-prong signal region.
Results from a wide range of searches targeting different experimental signatures with and without missing transverse momentum ($E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$) are used to constrain a Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) with an additional pseudo-scalar mediating the interaction between ordinary and dark matter (2HDM+$a$). The analyses use up to 139 fb$^{-1}$ of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015-2018. The results from three of the most sensitive searches are combined statistically. These searches target signatures with large $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ and a leptonically decaying $Z$ boson; large $E_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{miss}}$ and a Higgs boson decaying to bottom quarks; and production of charged Higgs bosons in final states with top and bottom quarks, respectively. Constraints are derived for several common as well as new benchmark scenarios within the 2HDM+$a$.
Observed combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
Expected combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
1 sigma band of expected combination limits at 95% CL in the $(m_{a},m_{A})$ plane under the assumption of $sin\theta$ = 0.35.
This Letter presents the measurement of the fiducial and differential cross-sections of the electroweak production of a $Z \gamma$ pair in association with two jets. The analysis uses 140 fb$^{-1}$ of LHC proton-proton collision data taken at $\sqrt{s}$=13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector during the years 2015-2018. Events with a $Z$ boson candidate decaying into either an $e^+e^-$ or $\mu^+ \mu^-$ pair, a photon and two jets are selected. The electroweak component is extracted by requiring a large dijet invariant mass and a large rapidity gap between the two jets and is measured with an observed and expected significance well above five standard deviations. The fiducial $pp \rightarrow Z \gamma jj$ cross-section for the electroweak production is measured to be 3.6 $\pm$ 0.5 fb. The total fiducial cross-section that also includes contributions where the jets arise from strong interactions is measured to be $16.8^{+2.0}_{-1.8}$ fb. The results are consistent with the Standard Model predictions. Differential cross-sections are also measured using the same events and are compared with parton-shower Monte Carlo simulations. Good agreement is observed between data and predictions.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>500 GeV SR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>500 GeV CR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Post-fit mjj distributions in the mjj>150 GeV Extended SR. The uncertainty band around the expectation includes all systematic uncertainties (including MC statistical uncertainty) and takes into account their correlations as obtained from the fit. The error bar around the data points represents the data statistical uncertainty. Events beyond the upper limit of the histogram are included in the last bin.
Semi-visible jets, with a significant contribution to the event's missing transverse momentum, can arise in strongly interacting dark sectors. This results in an event topology where one of the jets can be aligned with the direction of the missing transverse momentum. The first search for semi-visible jets produced via a $t$-channel mediator exchange is presented. The analysis uses proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ and a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector during the Run 2 of the LHC. No excess over Standard Model predictions is observed. Assuming a coupling strength of unity between the mediator, a Standard Model quark and a dark quark, mediator masses up to 2.7 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. Upper limits on the coupling strength are also derived.
The post-fit yields in the nine bins of the $(p_\textrm{T}^{\textrm{bal}}, |\phi_{\textrm{max}} - \phi_{\textrm{min}}|)$ grid. Error band includes all the systematic uncertainties.
The post-fit distributions of HT for the SR. Data are compared with background predictions, and six signal predictions covering a representative mediator mass and invisible fraction range are overlaid. The uncertainties include all systematic and statistical components. The last bin contains the overflow.
The post-fit distributions of $E_{\text{T}}^{\text{miss}}$ for the SR. Data are compared with background predictions, and six signal predictions covering a representative mediator mass and invisible fraction range are overlaid. The uncertainties include all systematic and statistical components. The last bin contains the overflow.
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